Barn Sanctuary’s Board of Directors Announcement of Executive Director Departure:
Dear Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of Barn Sanctuary’s Board of Directors and Staff, I want to offer our best wishes and heartfelt thanks to Kelly Holt for her years of service to Barn Sanctuary and the animals who call Barn Sanctuary home. It is with both sadness and gratitude that we announce her departure. Kelly’s last day will be Friday, July 9th.
As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Barn Sanctuary, Kelly’s passion, professionalism, and leadership has played a critical role in the development and success of this organization. Under her leadership, in a period of less than five years, Kelly grew a small nonprofit sanctuary into a highly esteemed nonprofit organization with international presence, built out a robust volunteer program, starred in our television show Saved by the Barn which reached millions of viewers, and oversaw the rescue of over 120 farmed animals. Our success would not have been possible without her.
Over the coming months, we will begin our search for our next Executive Director. However, there’s no doubt that Kelly’s presence will be deeply missed in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Kelly, we thank you for the memories, your unwavering dedication and passion for protecting animals, and most importantly, being an inspiration to all of us at Barn Sanctuary in our pursuit to create a world in which farmed animals are seen as individuals and treated with the empathy and compassion they deserve.
Sincerely,
Matthew Dominguez
Board Chair, Barn Sanctuary
From Kelly Holt, Executive Director:
Founding Barn Sanctuary with Dan and Tom McKernan in 2016, I could not have predicted the changes and growth we’d experience in the coming years. So I am announcing my resignation as Executive Director with mixed emotions because despite my immense pride and love for this organization, I believe that it is time for me to move on to new projects and horizons.
This nonprofit, our Board and staff, the animals we’ve rescued, the people who volunteer here, our donors and our followers have all touched my heart and changed my life. My professional accomplishments here, first as the Marketing Director and later as the Executive Director, are my greatest source of pride. We took an idea to rescue animals and turned it into a successful, stable, highly-esteemed nonprofit reaching millions of people in the span of 4 years.
My first year as Executive Director I inherited an organization on the verge of transition, unprecedented growth and unique cultural challenges. I shepherded Barn Sanctuary through one of the biggest and most challenging periods of growth our organization will ever face. I led our team through the release of a global television show about our work. And since our founding we have rescued nearly 200 animals, currently providing a forever home for over 120 of them. I’ve also had the privilege of cultivating the kind of team every manager would dream of. The team I leave behind is full of passionate, hard working, intelligent and collaborative people with a shared commitment to creating change for animals.
I am excited to follow Barn Sanctuary as a friend and donor in the future. I have no doubt, with our team and our vision, that the next chapter for the nonprofit will be as exciting, impactful, and successful as our first. I wish the Board of Directors success in finding a new Executive Director. I wish our team success in their continued work and look forward to seeing great things from Barn Sanctuary in the near future.
To our supporters who donated your time, money, gifts, tears and support, it was never lost on me that you are also the reason we were able to accomplish what we have so far. I am immensely grateful for your dedication to our mission and the future we believe is possible at Barn Sanctuary. We do this work for animals together.
My deepest gratitude,
